The Twitter bird logo is one fine example of how logo design can change over time. Sure, there’s the standard icon set available. Download the vectors, grab the Png file and resize the image for your blog or website. But it seems that Twitter’s faithful just aren’t content with this. Many have decided to produce Twitter icons and logos themselves.
One Logo, Many Variations
I have never seen so many different variations of one logo! They are all different and unique to the user that created them. Search google for a twitter bird icon for example and you are bound to come across a large number of different looking tweeting birds which are free to use anywhere you like.
It seems the general public have fallen in love with twitter and as a consequence they have a deep love for the symbol of this relatively new website. Twitter is now well known for changing the face of social networking. Information is more personal. It is fast, intuitive and sometimes even silly. Could Twitter also be responsible for a change in attitude towards logo design?
Is the attitude towards Logo Design changing?
We all know and respect the logo design formula. You visit a well respected website which has been carefully branded to the hilt. You accept that brand and learn pretty quickly to recognize it next time you see it. I guess that’s why it is there in the first place. But what happens when, next time you visit that site the branding has been changed or you decide to change it yourself?
That’s exactly what has happened over at Twitter.com. Visit numerous blogs which conjure up Twitter updates from different people. You will very rarely come across a similar logo or icon branding this piece of hearty news. The rules of the Internet are being rewritten yet again and it seems that Logo design isn’t immune to such changes.
I do wonder if this craze will catch on. Imagine people willingly redesigning such famous branded websites such as BBC News, the Guardian or even Facebook. Would it matter? What’s the value in having a consistent brand? Recognition for one. Check out these weird and wonderful twitter Logo creations!
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April 17 2009 | Xtra | No Comments »
Tweet Photo, effectively the next hottest thing since twitter has asked the masses for a new logo to promote itself with. The company is looking for Twitter users, who will effectively become their core customers, to provide feedback and vote for their favorite design.
The closing date for graphic designers to submit their logo into the contest is April 14, 2009 at 12:03am GMT. Many companies are now “crowdsourcing” and its proving to a be a cheap and effective way to get the best design out there.
Twitter Crowdsourcing
Twitter is no stranger to crowdsourcing. Twitter effectively did crowdsourcing with its bird design, purchasing it for $10 to $15, an iStockphoto spokeswoman told wired.com. According to Rodney Rumford, Co-Founder of TweetPhoto, “There’s no better way to engage your customers than to have them design and vote upon your creative needs.”
Crowdsourcing is a simple concept. Twitter asks for a new logo and send out thousands of invitations to its users and designers. Those people recognize the benefit of producing what will be a world famous logo and send through their best work and ideas. The result? A definite excellent logo one would hope!
Instant Classic?
Take twitter’s current bird logo. Its simple and arty and the best thing about it is the fact that its fast becoming instantly recognizable on any website it is shown. One could even go as far as to say that the Twitter logo even enhances a website, making it look more cool, happening and with it.
I’m guessing Twitter gets a lot of responses for this logo request. Hell, I’m even tempted to enter an idea myself. You know what they say. If your not in you can’t win! Good luck to us all!
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April 06 2009 | Xtra | 2 Comments »
Gary Stewart approached Chew Design and asked me to create a logo and branding for his new restaurant, “Tartine”.
This would be a new restaurant situated within the already established Distiller’s Arms Pub in Bushmills. Gary had just bought the premises and wanted to obviously change things about a bit and give the business a fresher feel.
Logo Design Brief
Gary wanted to keep the original typeface and logo of the Distiller’s Arms but have a new cool idea for the Tartine Restaurant. At the time he described his thoughts on the design saying,
“I want to add a new “chic” factor with the addition of a restaurant within the premises eg TARTINE at Distillers Arms. Obviously, the restaurant name being Tartine. I am having a mostly cosmetic refurb/makeover done with more modern fabrics,wall colors,lighting
and aesthetic work done at the outside main entrance.
I am happy with the actual distillers logo/typeface but need a cool idea for Tartine I suppose it is a starting point.”
Beyond that, Gary left all design work to me. I had free rein. This can sometimes be a blessing or a hindrance but in this case it helped things along immensely. After a few brainstorming sessions and a quick bit of research into the Distiller’s Arms I came came up with a number of ideas. Many would link to the historical ties of the actual pub, it having been the home of the Bushmills Distillery owners for many years. The pub had obviously taken its name from this bit of history and I felt that Tartine could possibly benefit from this as well.
Development of an Idea
Upon receiving the first batch of ideas Gary immediately picked one that he preferred over all others. It was the logo with the barley symbol that caught his eye. The barely symbol comes loosely from the historical ties the pub has with the Bushmills Distillery. Whiskey is made there and barely is used to make whiskey. Gary liked this logo and so I set about developing ideas about colour, layout, spacing and font around this chosen design. Gary was very specific about colour. He wanted the logo to tie in with the new interior colours of his restaurant and also compliment it. He mentioned plum, purple, aubergine, greys, black as colour preferences and I certainly stuck to this set of requirements. Experimenting with colour allowed the design to breathe and develop. I sent through a number of design alternatives.
Refining the barley
Gary was delighted with these samples and became very specific about how he wanted the logo to look. The font needed a little work. Gary liked the idea of elongating a few letters. This would enhance the logo further but we had to be careful. Too much manipulation would make the text and font unreadable. He liked gray and aubergine. He also wanted me to try placing the logo on an oval shape. This would give the design a little more consistency and perhaps tie it in with the theme of its parent pub, the Distillers Arms. I experimented with circular and oval shapes and sent through another batch of samples.
We had pretty much nailed it with this last batch of samples.
Gary picked one that caught his eye and I finalized it for him. The logo is simple, light in colour but definitely effective. It sets the mood almost immediately for Gary’s new business venture. Gary was delighted. “ You did a great job! Things are beginning to heat up with Tartine and im now at the stage where i need more hours in the day.
Its all good!!”
Another happy client. Another great logo!
LINK TO DISTILLERS ARMS WEBSITE www.distillersarms.com
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March 31 2009 | Xtra | No Comments »
The British Government and logo design. A likely match? Possibly not and definitely not in the case of the logo redesign for the Office of Government Commerce, the OGC. When turned on its side the new logo looks a little rude. How long did it take for someone to recognize this when the logo was revealed? Five minutes! Apparently employees spotted the mistake as soon as it was revealed.
A spokesman for OGC said: “It is true that it caused a few titters among some staff when viewed on its side, but on consideration we concluded that the effect was generic to the particular combination of the letters OGC – and it is not inappropriate to an organisation that’s looking to have a firm grip on Government spend.”
The logo, for the Office of Government Commerce, was intended to signify a bold commitment to the body’s aim of “improving value for money by driving up standards and capability in procurement”. I’m sure it does just this. It’s a simple idea- robust and official but one can’t ignore the fact that it looks like a man with an erection. I wonder why this wasn’t spotted in the design studio before the logo was passed and approved for the client.
The simple answer is we are all human and mistakes do happen. Designers are peculiar folk. We get so wrapped up in an idea and work on it for hours, days even that we sometimes miss the obvious. When designing I always try and get a second opinion. Perhaps this is a good example of why a second opinion counts for so much. I for one will be asking others to take a quick glance at projects I’m working on just to be sure!
Paul
March 25 2009 | Xtra | 1 Comment »
A look at some of the most enduring logo designs of all time.
1) World Wildlife Fund
A simple illustration of a Panda is all it took to make this highly recognizable logo and instant classic.
It’s usually found in black and white but sometimes the black can be replaced by another color such as green or something similar.
The Panda isn’t very detailed but this is where the logo succeeds. It doesn’t have to be and it most certainly gets the message across.
The logo is known throughout the world and sometimes can be seen without the “World Wildlife Fund” written under it.
Perhaps it’s true mark of success can be taken from the fact it doesn’t need words for people to instantly know what it is and stands for.
2) Batman
Another visual treat is the Batman logo.
Instantly recognizable, this logo also rarely needs words to accompany it and is usually spotted in black and yellow.
The main form is taken from the simple illustration of a bat. Nothing is over complicated.
The illustration is not detailed and lends itself more towards a simplified symbol which is ultimately readable by just about anyone.
The result?
A classic form which has been used time and time again. It has been used throughout the Batman movies and on many other forms of merchandise. In fact anything can be found sporting this logo presently, helped along by the fact that it’s judged by most to be cool.
You will probably find it next time you’re out looking for a T-shirt on a hot day!
3) Coca-Cola
A worldwide brand such as Coca Cola needs no introduction, nor does its logo.
Known throughout every corner of the world, the Coke logo is perhaps a shining example of how best to market a product.
Rarely changing or altering from its original shape, this logo is a classic loved and known worldwide.
The name itself comes from the drinks two original ingredients, coca leaves and kola nuts. The logo consists of the two words Coca and Cola in a bright red color.
Simple and effective, it certainly gets the message across when you hold the bottle of the fizzy soft drink.
You are drinking one of the most recognizable branded product in the world.
Now enjoy!
4) Nike Classic
The Nike swoosh is a definite logo nobody forgets.
Yet many are surprised to learn that this was designed by Graduate student Carolyn Davidson in 1972 for a mere $35.
I would definitely say that Nike got themselves a bargain!
The result is a brand name that is deemed so popular and cool its founds its way onto shaved heads, tattooed arms and various other personal belongings.
The success of the logo can perhaps be seen in the fact that the Nike brand has been taken by people , used and adapted to represent the cool or fun aspect of their lives.
It’s a red colored swoosh that endures in Nikes brands and products as well as sport, popular culture and the lives of many.
5) Puma
Another sporting brand logo, Puma is quite similar in style to the Nike brand.
It features one striking and simple element in the design to get its message across. It’s not a swoosh. This time it’s a Puma!
Usually in a deep green the Puma is set to look like its jumping over the logo’s words.
Pretty effective seeing as this is a logo for a company which supplies people with equipment and clothing to exercise and play sport in.
6) Firefox
The Firefox logo is a relatively new brand but one which has risen quickly.
Representing a website browser which now challenges the supreme and widely used Microsoft Internet Explorer, you would expect this to be a beast of a logo and in many ways it is.
It’s not simple.
It contains many elements but yet it’s nice to look at and it draws your eye.
t took me many months to realize that the fiery swish that circles the globe is actually the top of a fox.
But then it’s taken many months for Firefox to slowly but surely take some of the market share in the website browser industry.
Perhaps it’s fitting to look at the logo from this angle then.
7) BMW
The BMW logo is a largely national brand representing Germany and its might as a major car supplier over the last century.
The checkerboard pattern evokes a curiosity and indeed yields clues to the origin of this car giant.
The checkerboard is in blue for the sky and white. It also reminds us of the Bavarian flag.
The overall logo is a rotating airscrew.
BMW originally built planes that bombed the factories they eventually took over.
There is a pride in this logo and a robust sense, one that reflects the very product the sell today- cars!
8 ) MTV
The MTV logo needs no introduction.
It’s a simple M shape with a more playful TV written across it.
It has appeared over the years in many guises but the overall concept remains the same.
It’s a worldwide brand and succeeds in its simple message.
It’s simple forms get the message across very quickly, something a television station needs to do, especially in this fast modern world of moving image and pop culture.
9) Adidas
The adidas logo is another very simple brand but one that works very effectively.
It consists of three different sized triangles. Named after the founder Adolf (Adi) Dasler, the three triangle shapes reportedly represent his three sons.
The logo is an international brand and works well in getting its message across throughout various sporting venues worldwide.
10) Mickey Mouse
The Mickey mouse logo needs no introduction.
A vital part of Disney, it consists of a simple shaped silhouette of the mouse himself.
It’s a very simple shape and form but it does the job and it does it well. Children immediately recognize the brand where ever it goes and consequently so do the adults.
The logo can be seen everywhere from movies and stores across the world to even a cruising company branded with the Disney theme.
A shining example of logo design at its most successful and best.
March 19 2009 | Xtra | No Comments »
